The Basics on Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)

A savvy way to shop around for a used car entails requesting the dealer or seller for the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). At online car site, car buyers may use the Web site's VIN decoder to learn about the car's history.

Did you know that the letters I, O and Q will never be found on a Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs)? Subsequent to 1981, VINs were added to all cars. The VIN number can provide valuable information pertaining to a car's history.

Here are three places to locate the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):

- Dashboards
- Driver's side door on jamb stickers
- Title documents